The government-run Central Trust of China has mandated for the first time that all desktop computers purchased from now on must be Linux-compatible, demonstrating the Chinese government's desire to widen the nation's usage of open source software. "It is a global trend that Linux is gaining wider adoption due to its lower costs and better adaptability," Mike Lin, a consultant at the Taipei Computer Association, told the Taipei Times yesterday. Note: This article is about the Republic Of China (Taiwan) and not The People's Republic Of China.

I have a feeling that poor countries are slow in adopting the cost benefits of Linux.

you forget that ms makes great discounts when it comes to poor countries and high volume licenses
so the cost-advantage of linux is not as big as you think
for example: organisations like computer-aid.org have deals with ms where they pay just 1$ for win/office per pc.
at my university students pay 5euro for xp and office (and get a pressed cd )